HIV infection, seasonality and younger age predicting incident Bell's palsy among black South Africans.

Background: Although South Africa (SA) is facing a high prevalence of HIV infection, there is no literature from this region on a link between Bell's palsy and HIV. The aim of this study was to identify the occurrence of Bell's palsy in relation to demographics, seasons and HIV status among black South Africans.

Methods: This retrospective cohort was conducted among adult black patients, without Bell's palsy in 2003, presenting to the neurology outpatients department at Dr.